Impacts of Raised Bog Restoration on Birds

Alex Copland

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by

the EU, NPWS and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Raised Bog Restoration

Removal of conifers

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Blocking drains

Data collection

• Four survey sites (Girley Bog, Lough Forbes, Scohaboy Bog & Ballygar Bog)

• Transects walked in 2012 (baseline)

• Same routes walked in 2015• Bird and habitat data collected

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Results

• Overall transect length 7,682m• Five habitat categories:

• Conifers• Woodland• Open clearfell• Dense clearfell• Bog

• Four habitat niches:• Conifer (specialist)• Bog (specialist)• Woodland (generalist)• Other (generalist)

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Habitat Results

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Bird Results

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Bird Results

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Interesting species

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

Future Prospects

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in

Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by the EU, NPWS

and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie

• Continued habitat stability and re-wetting will benefit birds

• Removal of brash volumes would hasten bird usage (balance of micro- and macro-habitat structure and rehabilitation).

• Care of scrub encroachment and/or regeneration

Thank you!

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 "Demonstrating Best Practice in Raised Bog Restoration in Ireland“ which is funded by

the EU, NPWS and Coillte - see www.raisedbogrestoration.ie